MAYOR-PRESIDENT JOINS MAYORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY AS PART OF BLOOMBERG HARVARD CITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

MAYOR-PRESIDENT MONIQUE B. BOULET JOINS MAYORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD AT HARVARD UNIVERSITY AS PART OF BLOOMBERG HARVARD CITY LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE

Leaders from 45 cities across 16 countries to share how they are delivering results for residents

LAFAYETTE, LA - Lafayette Mayor-President Monique B. Boulet convened with a prestigious cohort of mayors from around the world at Harvard University from April 12-14 as part of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. Joining leaders from 45 cities across 16 countries, Mayor-President Boulet engaged in a high-level exchange of data-driven strategies and urban solutions aimed at delivering measurable results for the Lafayette community.

Established by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard Business School, the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative provides mayors and senior city officials with research-based insights and tools to tackle complex urban challenges. Since its launch in 2017, the program has trained 359 mayors and more than 635 senior municipal officials across 41 countries.

"Local government is where policy meets people, and our time at Harvard reinforces that Lafayette is not just participating in the global conversation-we are leading it," said Mayor-President Boulet. "Collaborating with international peers allows us to sharpen our approach to local challenges, from infrastructure to public finance. By bringing these world-class insights back to Lafayette, we are ensuring our government remains disciplined, innovative, and focused on the real-world needs of our residents."

Housed at the Bloomberg Center for Cities at Harvard University, the Initiative supports mayors and their senior teams over nine months through classroom, virtual, and field-based learning. Drawing on Harvard faculty, staff, and students-as well as experts from Bloomberg Philanthropies' global network-the program helps city leaders use data and evidence more effectively, foster collaboration and innovation, and deliver results for their communities.

During her time at Harvard, Mayor-President Boulet participated in a series of specialized forums, sharing how Lafayette is addressing key challenges and advancing solutions for residents.

Topics explored during these events include democratic innovation, homelessness and public health, cross-sector partnerships for children and youth, infrastructure development, and the evolving role of mayors on the global stage.

This participation further cements Lafayette's growing reputation as a hub for municipal innovation. By putting these global learnings into action, Mayor-President Boulet continues to accelerate progress on shared challenges while strengthening the efficiency of local government.

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About Bloomberg Philanthropies:Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on creating lasting change in five key areas: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg's giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consultancy that advises cities around the world. In 2024, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed $3.7 billion. For more information, please visit bloomberg.org, sign up for ournewsletter, or follow usInstagram,LinkedIn,YouTube,Threads,Facebook, andX.